Release mechanism for plug in-type terminals

Abstract

A manually operable releasing mechanism for plug in-type terminals that are used for rapidly connecting electrical conducting lines to an electrical unit, and providing for rapid deactuation of the retainer for the conducting line to permit ready withdrawal of the conductor line from the unit, when so desired.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In an electrical switch mechanism for a portable type tool comprising a trigger-switch assembly, the latter including a module portion disposed within a switch housing, said switch module having spaced stationary electrical contacts thereon and including a spring like retainer coacting with each contact adapted when in active condition to engage an insertable conductor line for gripping the latter to hold it in place, said retainer including a generally diagonally arranges spring blade on said module which adjacent one end thereof is adapted to releasably engage the bared wire of the conductor line, for positioning the latter against the respective stationary electrical contact, said module generally adjacent each said stationary contact including a shoulder and a spaced lip portion defining a passageway for receiving the bared wire of the respective conductor line, the combination therewith of means mounted on said mechanism for selectively deactivating said blades to permit ready withdrawal of the conductor lines from coaction with the respective stationary contact, said deactivating means comprising a U-shaped pusher element having upstanding arms disposed in the associated of said passageways intermediate the respective shoulder and lip portion on the switch module, said element being slidable inwardly of said passageways so as to be engageable with the spring blades for moving the latter generally simultaneously out of gripping coaction with the respective bared wire to permit withdrawal of the conductor lines, the cross portion of said element disposed exteriorly of said switch housing exterior, means on the arms for coaction with the respective lip portion for retaining the pusher element in assembled relation with the switch mechanism, and including other means on the respective arm for limiting inward movement of said element with respect to said switch module, said arms being of sufficient length so that said cross portion of said pusher element is in spaced relation to said switch housing in all positions of said pusher element so as to be always oriented outwardly of said switch housing. 
     
     
       2. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said arms is of generally planar configuration having on one side edge thereof an elongated recess comprising said retaining means and receiving therein said lip portion, and on the opposite side edge thereof comprising a cut away section defining an oblique surface comprising said limiting means which is adapted for coaction with said shoulder of said switch module to limit the inward movement of said pusher element with respect to said switch housing. 
     
     
       3. A switch mechanism in accordance with claim 2 including spaced conductor lines having bared ends extending into the respective passageway and into engagement with respective stationary contact, and removably held therein by the respective blade, said U-shaped element being disposed intermediate said conductor lines and being movable inwardly and outwardly relative thereto and relative to said switch housing. 
     
     
       4. A releasing mechanism for releasing a pair of spaced conductor lines from plug in-type terminals in an electrical switch mechanism for a portable type tool which includes a trigger-switch assembly comprising a switch housing and a removable electrical contact module disposed in the housing, said releasing mechanism being adapted to substantially simultaneously engage and deactivate a pair of spaced spring blade retainers on the module in said housing each of which retainers is adapted to grip a bared end of an associated conductor line inserted into the respective terminal, said releasing mechanism comprising a pusher element formed of semi-rigid plastic material and of generally U-shaped configuration in elevation, including upstanding planar arms and a connecting cross portion, each of said arms being engageable with the respective spring blade retainer on the electrical switch module so as to substantially simultaneously release the blade retainers from coaction with the respective conductor lines, one side edge of at least one of said arms having an elongated recess formed therein adapted for retaining coaction with a lip on the module for retaining the pusher element in assembled relation with the switch mechanism and the opposite side edge of at least one of said arms including a cut away portion defining an oblique surface thereon adapted for abutting engagement with a shoulder on said module for limiting the inward movement of the pusher element with respect to the module and associated switch housing, said arms being of sufficient length and said oblique surface being so disposed so that said cross portion of said pusher element is always disposed in spaced exterior relation to the switch housing of the electrical switch mechanism in all positions of said pusher element relative to the housing.